“Brethren,145145 [“I have just charged you to shun provocation and envy. I
now ask you to do more—to be gentle even to those whose guilt is
flagrant.”—Lightfoot.—G.A.]even if a man be
overtaken in any trespass.”146146̓́῎Εν τινι
παραπτώματι, “in a false step or slip,” omitted, in the
text yet commented on.

Forasmuch as under cover of a rebuke they gratified their private feelings,
and professing to do so for faults which had been committed, were
advancing their own ambition, he says, “Brethren, if a man be
overtaken.” He said not if a man commit but if he be
“overtaken” that is, if he be carried away.147147 [Meyer holds the same view of this word (προλημφθῇ) and says, “If he be overtaken,” means if the
sin has reached him more rapidly than he could flee from it. Ellicott,
however, says this view of the πρό would tend to excuse
and qualify, whereas καὶ seems to point to an
aggravation of the offense. The meaning then is “be caught before
he could escape.”—So Lightfoot but not
Schaff.—G.A.]

“Ye which are spiritual148148 [“Paul leaves it with every reader to regard himself
included or not.”—Meyer—G.A.] restore such a one,”

He says not
“chastise” nor “judge,” but “set
right.” Nor does he stop here, but in order to show that it
behoved them to be very gentle towards those who had lost their
footing, he subjoins,

“In a spirit of
meekness.”

He says not, “in
meekness,” but, “in a spirit of meekness,” signifying
thereby that this is acceptable to the Spirit, and that to be able to
administer correction with mildness is a spiritual gift. Then, to
prevent the one being unduly exalted by having to correct the other,
puts him under the same fear, saying,

“Looking to thyself, lest
thou also be tempted.”

For as rich men convey
contributions to the indigent, that in case they should be themselves
involved in poverty they may receive the same bounty, so ought we also
to do. And therefore he states this cogent reason, in these words,
“looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” He
apologizes for the offender, first, by saying “if ye be
overtaken;” next, by employing a term indicative of great
infirmity149149 Viz.,
in a false step, εν
τινι
παραπτώματι.; lastly, by the words “lest
thou also be tempted,” thus arraigning the malice of the devil
rather than the remissness of the soul.

It being impossible for man to
be without failings, he exhorts them not to scrutinize severely the
offences of others, but even to bear their failings, that their own may
in turn be borne by others. As, in the building of a house, all the
stones hold not the same position, but one is fitted for a corner but
not for the foundations, another for the foundations, and not for the
corner so too is it in the body of the Church. The same thing holds in
the frame of our own flesh; notwithstanding which, the one member bears
with the other, and we do not require every thing from each, but what
each contributes in common constitutes both the body and the
building.

He says not
“fulfil,” but, “complete150150 Not πληρώσατε, but ἀναπληρώσατε.;” that is, make it up all of you in
common,151151 [“This explanation of Chrysostom is not satisfactory. The
word in all cases appears to denote a complete filling
up.”—Ellicott. “By lending a hand
to bear your neighbor’s burden, you will fulfil the most perfect
of all laws—the law of Christ. But if (ver. 3.) any one asserts his superiority, if any one exalts
himself above others, he is nothing worth and is a vain self-deceiver.
Nay (ver. 4.) rather let each man
test his own work (ἔργονbeing in an
emphatic position) and then his boast will be his own and not depend on
comparison with others.”—Lightfoot.—G.A.] by the things wherein ye bear with one
another. For example, this man is irascible, thou art dull-tempered;
bear therefore with his vehemence that he in turn may bear with thy
sluggishness; and thus neither will he transgress, being supported by
thee, nor wilt thou offend in the points where thy defects lie, because
of thy brother’s forbearing with thee. So do ye by reaching forth
a hand one to another when about to fall, fulfil the Law in common,
each completing what is wanting in his neighbor by his own endurance.
But if ye do not thus, but each of you will investigate the faults of
his neighbor, nothing will ever be performed by you as it ought. For as
in the case of the body, if one were to exact the same function from
every member of it, the body could never consist, so must there be
great strife among brethren if we were to require all things from
all.

Ver.
3.
“For if a man thinketh himself to be something, when he is
nothing, he deceiveth himself.”

44Here again he reflects on their arrogance. He that thinks himself
to be something is nothing, and exhibits at the outset a proof of his
worthlessness by such a disposition.

Here he shows that we ought to
be scrutinizers of our lives, and this not lightly, but carefully to
weigh our actions; as for example, if thou hast performed a good deed,
consider whether it was not from vain glory, or through necessity, or
malevolence, or with hypocrisy, or from some other human motive. For as
gold appears to be bright before it is placed in the furnace, but when
committed to the fire, is closely proved, and all that is spurious is
separated from what is genuine, so too our works, if closely examined,
will be distinctly made manifest, and we shall perceive that we have
exposed ourselves to much censure.

Ver.
4.
“And then shall he have his glorying in regard of himself alone
and not of his neighbor.”

This he says, not as laying down
a rule, but in the way of concession; and his meaning is this,152152 [“If any one wishes to find matter for boasting, let it be
truly searched for in his own actions and not derived from a contrast
of his own fancied virtues with the faults of
others.”—Ellicott.—G.A.]—Boasting is senseless, but if thou
wilt boast, boast not against thy neighbor, as the Pharisee did. For he
that is so instructed will speedily give up boasting altogether; and
therefore he concedes a part that he may gradually extirpate the whole.
He that is wont to boast with reference to himself only, and not
against others, will soon reform this failing also. For he that does
not consider himself better than others, for this is the meaning of
“not in regard of his neighbor,” but becomes elated by
examining himself by himself, will afterwards cease to be so. And that
you may be sure this is what he desires to establish, observe how he
checks him by fear, saying above, “let every man prove his own
work,” and adding here,

He appears to state a reason
prohibitory of boasting against another; but at the same time he
corrects the boaster, to that he may no more entertain high thoughts of
himself by bringing to his remembrance his own errors, and pressing
upon his conscience the idea of a burden, and of being heavily laden.153153 [Ellicott says, “The qualitative and humbling distinction of
Chrysostom does not appear natural or probable, nor does it refer to
that which will take place in every man after the examination (Meyer);
but is apparently used ethically in reference to what according to the
nature of things must be the case.”—G.A.]

Ver.
6.
“But let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that
teacheth in all good things.”

Here he proceeds to discourse
concerning Teachers, to the effect that they ought to be tended with
great assiduity by their disciples. Now what is the reason that Christ
so commanded? For this law, “that they which preach the Gospel
should live of the Gospel,” (1 Cor. ix. 14.) is laid down in
the New Testament; and likewise in the Old, (Num. xxxi. 47; xxxv.
1–8.) many revenues accrued to the Levites from the people; what is
the reason, I say, that He so ordained? Was it not for the sake of
laying a foundation beforehand of lowliness and love? For inasmuch as
the dignity of a teacher oftentimes elates him who possesses it, He, in
order to repress his spirit, hath imposed on him the necessity of
requiring aid at the hands of his disciples. And to these in turn he
hath given154154 [Those
philosophers among the Greeks who received pay from their pupils were
looked down upon, and called Sophists, vid.
Xen. Mem. 1. 6. §. 13. means of cultivating kindly feelings,
by training them, through the kindness required of them to their
Teacher, in gentleness towards others also. By this means no slight
affection is generated on both sides. Were not the cause of this what I
have stated it to be, why should He, who fed the dull-minded Jews with
manna, have reduced the Apostles to the necessity of asking for aid? Is
it not manifest He aimed at the great benefits of humility and love,
and that those who were under teaching might not be ashamed of Teachers
who were in appearance despicable? To ask for aid bears the semblance
of disgrace, but it ceased to be so, when their Teachers with all
boldness urged their claim, so that their disciples derived from hence
no small benefit, taught hereby to despise all appearances. Wherefore
he says, “But155155 [Different views are held as to the connection of this with the
preceding. Lightfoot says the connection is this: “I spoke of
bearing one another’s burdens. There is one special application I
would make of this rule; provide for the wants of your teachers.
Δέ arrests a former topic before it passes out of sight.”
(Compare 4: 20.) But Ellicott takes a
different view and says: “The duty of sharing their temporal
blessings with their teacher is placed in contrast with the foregoing
declaration of individual responsibility in spiritual matter.” So
also Meyer who, however, refers it to moral
good.—G.A.] let him that is
taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good
things,” that is, let him show to him all generosity; this he
implies by the words, “in all good things.” Let the
disciple, says he, keep nothing to himself, but have every thing in
common, for what he receives is better than what he gives,—as
much better as heavenly are better than earthly things. This he
expresses in another place, “If we sowed unto you spiritual
things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal
things?” (1 Cor. ix. 11.) Wherefore he gives
the procedure the name of a “communication,” showing that
an interchange takes place. Hereby too love is greatly fostered and
confirmed. If the teacher asks merely for competency, he does not by
receiving it derogate from his own dignity. For this is praiseworthy,
so assidu45ously to apply to the Word, as to require the aid of others, and
to be in manifold poverty, and to be regardless of all the means of
subsistence. But if he exceed the due measure, he injures his dignity,
not by mere receiving, but by receiving too much. Then, lest the vice
of the Teacher should render the disciple more remiss in this matter,
and he should frequently pass him by, though poor, on account of his
conduct, he proceeds to say,

Ver.
9.
“And let us not be weary in well doing.”156156 [Dislocated by Chrysostom. This is a part of verse 9, and is an
encouragement not to become weary in below sowing to the Spirit.—
Meyer.—G.A.]

And here he points out the
difference between ambition of this kind, and in temporal affairs, by
saying, “Be not deceived157157 [Meyer, understanding “all good things” to mean every
thing that is morally good, says, that this is a warning to the
readers, in respect to this necessary moral fellowship not to allow
themselves to be led astray (by the teachers of error or otherwise).
Lightfoot and Schaff refer this warning to the consequences of failure
to share their temporal blessings with their teachers. Ellicott says,
“Verse 7 is a continuation of
the subject in a more general and extended way but not without
reference to the special command which immediately
precedes.”—G.A.]; God is not mocked;
for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that
soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he
that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal
life.” As in the case of seeds, one who sows pulse cannot reap
corn, for what is sown and what is reaped must both be of one kind, so
is it in actions, he that plants in the flesh, wantonness, drunkenness,
or inordinate desire, shall reap the fruits of these things. And what
are these fruits? Punishment, retribution, shame, derision,
destruction. For of sumptuous tables and viands the end is no other
than destruction; for they both perish themselves, and destroy the body
too. But the fruit of the Spirit is of a nature not similar but
contrary in all respects to these. For consider; hast thou sown
alms-giving? the treasures of heaven and eternal glory await thee: hast
thou sown temperance? honor and reward, and the applause of Angels, and
a crown from the Judge await thee.

Ver. 9,
10.
“And let us not be weary in well-doing; for in due season we
shall reap, if we faint not. So then as we have opportunity, let us
work that which is good toward all men, especially toward them that are
of the household of faith.”

Lest any one should suppose that
their Teachers were to be cared for and supported, but that others
might be neglected, he makes his discourse general, and opens the door
of this charitable zeal to all; nay, he carries it to such a height, as
to command us to show mercy both to Jews and Greeks, in the proper
gradation indeed, but still to show mercy. And what is this gradation?
it consists in bestowing greater care upon the faithful. His endeavor
here is the same as in his other Epistles; he discourses not merely of
showing mercy, but of doing it with zeal and perseverance, for the
expressions of “sowing” and of “not fainting”
imply this. Then, having exacted a great work, he places its reward
close at hand, and makes mention of a new and wondrous harvest. Among
husbandmen, not only the sower but also the reaper endures much labor,
having to struggle with drought and dust and grievous toil, but in this
case none of these exist, as he shows by the words, “for in due
season we shall reap, if we faint not.” By this means he
stimulates and draws them on; and he also urges and presses them
forward by another motive, saying, “As we have therefore
opportunity, let us do good.” As it is not always in our power to
sow, so neither is it to show mercy; for when we have been carried
hence, though we may desire it a thousand times, we shall be able to
effect nothing more. To this argument of ours the Ten Virgins
(Mat.
xxv. 1. ff.) bear witness, who although they wished it a thousand times,
yet were shut out from the bridegroom, because they brought with them
no bountiful charity. And so does the rich man who neglected Lazarus
(Luke
xvi. 19.) for he, being destitute of this succor, although he wept and
made many entreaties, won no compassion from the Patriarch, or any one
else, but continued destitute of all forgiveness, and tormented with
perpetual fire. Therefore he says, “as we have opportunity, let
us work that which is good toward all men,” hereby especially
also setting them free from the narrow-mindedness of the Jews. For the
whole of their benevolence was confined to their own race, but the rule
of life which Grace gives invites both land and sea to the board of
charity, only it shows a greater care for its own household.

Ver. 11,
12.
“See with how large letters I have written unto you with mine own
hand. As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they compel
you to be circumcised.”

Observe what grief possesses his
blessed soul. As those who are oppressed with some sorrow, who have
lost one of their own kindred, and suffered an unexpected calamity,
rest neither by night nor day, because their grief besieges their soul,
so the blessed Paul, after a short moral discourse, returns again to
that former subject which chiefly disturbed his mind, saying as
follows: “see with how large letters I have written unto you with
mine own hand.” By this he signifies that he had written the
whole letter158158 [Ellicott hesitatingly adopts this view also. So Alford and Riddle
(in Lange). But Meyer, Schaff, Schmoller (in Lange) and Lightfoot say
that ἔγραψα(Philem. 19.) is the epistolary aorist and marks the point at which
Paul takes the pen from the amanuensis; and that only this concluding
paragraph was written with his own hand. So the American Committee also
in the Rev. Ver.—G.A.]46himself, which was a proof of
great sincerity. In his other Epistles he himself only dictated,
another wrote, as is plain from the Epistle to the Romans, for at its
close it is said, “I Tertius, who write the Epistle, salute
you;” (Rom. xvi. 22.) but in this instance
he wrote the whole himself. And this he did by necessity, not from
affection merely, but in order to remove an injurious suspicion. Being
charged with acts wherein he had no part, and being reported to preach
Circumcision yet to pretend to preach it not, he was compelled to write
the Epistle with his own hand, thus laying up beforehand a written
testimony. By the expression “what sized,” he appears to me
to signify, not the magnitude, but, the misshapen appearance159159 [“The word used, πηλίκοις, denotes size not irregularity. Nor is it probable that
Paul who was educated at Jerusalem and Tarsus, the great centre of
Jewish and Greek learning, was ignorant and unskillful in writing
Greek. The boldness of the handwriting answers to the force of the
Apostle’s
convictions.”—Lightfoot.—G.A.] of the letters, as if he had said,
“Although not well skilled in writing, I have been compelled to
write with my own hand to stop the mouth of these
traducers.”

Ver. 12,
13.
“As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they compel
you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the
cross of Christ. For not even they who receive circumcision do
themselves keep the Law; but they desire to have you circumcised, that
they may glory in your flesh.”

Here he shows that they suffered
this, not willingly but of necessity, and affords them an opportunity
of retreat, almost speaking in their defence, and exhorting them to
abandon their teachers with all speed. What is the meaning of “to
make a fair show in the flesh?” it means, to be esteemed by men.
As they were reviled by the Jews for deserting the customs of their
fathers, they desire, says he, to injure you, that they may not have
this charged against them, but vindicate themselves by means of your
flesh.160160 [“Certain men have an ‘object’ in displaying
their zeal for carnal ordinances. They hope thereby to save themselves
from persecution for professing the cross of
Christ.”—Lightfoot.—G.A.] His object here is to show that they did not
so act from respect to God; it is as if he said, This procedure is not
founded in piety, all this is done through human ambition; in order
that the unbelievers may be gratified by the mutilation of the
faithful, they choose to offend God that they may please men; for this
is the meaning of, “to make a fair show in the flesh.”
Then, as a proof that for another reason too they are unpardonable, he
again convinces them that, not only in order to please others, but for
their own vain glory,161161 [“They advocate circumcision and yet they themselves neglect
the ordinances of the Law. They could not face the obloquy to which
their abandonment of the Mosaic Law would expose them. So they tried to
keep on good terms with their unconverted fellow-Jews by imposing
circumcision on the Gentile converts also thus getting the credit of
zeal for the law.”—Lightfoot.—G.A.] they had enjoined
this. Wherefore he adds, “that they may glory in your
flesh,” as if they had disciples, and were teachers. And what is
the proof of this? “For not even they themselves,” he says,
“keep the Law;” even if they did keep it, they would incur
grave censure, but now their very purpose is corrupt.

Ver.
14.
“But far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord
Jesus Christ.”

Truly this symbol is thought
despicable; but it is so in the world’s reckoning, and among men;
in Heaven and among the faithful it is the highest glory. Poverty too
is despicable, but it is our boast; and to be cheaply thought of by the
public is a matter of laughter to them, but we are elated by it. So too
is the Cross our boast. He does not say, “I boast not,”
nor, “I will not boast,” but, “Far be it from me that
I should,” as if he abominated it as absurd, and invoked the aid
of God in order to his success therein. And what is the boast of the
Cross? That Christ for my sake took on Him the form of a slave, and
bore His sufferings for me the slave, the enemy, the unfeeling one; yea
He so loved me as to give Himself up to a curse for me. What can be
comparable to this! If servants who only receive praise from their
masters, to whom they are akin by nature, are elated thereby, how must
we not boast when the Master who is very God is not ashamed of the
Cross which was endured for us. Let us then not be ashamed of His
unspeakable tenderness; He was not ashamed of being crucified for thy
sake, and wilt thou be ashamed to confess His infinite solicitude? It
is as if a prisoner who had not been ashamed of his King, should, after
that King had come to the prison and himself loosed the chains, become
ashamed of him on that account. Yet this would be the height of
madness, for this very fact would be an especial ground for
boasting.

Ver.
14.
“Through which the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto
the world.”162162 [“For myself, on the other hand, far be it from me, etc.: By
way of contrast to the boasting of the pseudo-apostles, Paul now
presents his own ground of boasting, namely, the crucifixion of Christ,
by whose crucifixion is produced the result that no fellowship of life
longer exists between him and the world: it is dead for him and he is
dead for it.”—Meyer.—Alter
pro mortuo habet alterum.
(Schott.)—G.A.]

What he here calls the world is
not the heaven nor the earth, but the affairs of life, the praise of
men, retinues, glory, wealth, and all such things as have a show of
splendor. To me these things are dead. Such an one it behooves a
Christian to be, and always to use this language. Nor was he content
with the former putting to death, but added another, saying, “and
I unto the world,” thus implying a double putting to death, and
saying, They are dead to me, and I to them, neither can they captivate
and overcome me, for they are dead once for all, 47nor can I desire them, for I
too am dead to them. Nothing can be more blessed than this putting to
death, for it is the foundation of the blessed life.

Ver. 15,
16.
“For neither is circumcision any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a
new creature. And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be upon
them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.”

Observe the power of the Cross,
to what a pitch it hath raised him! not only hath it put to death for
him all mundane affairs, but hath set him far above the Old
Dispensation. What can be comparable to this power? for the Cross hath
persuaded him, who was willing to be slain and to slay others for the
sake of circumcision, to leave it on a level with uncircumcision, and
to seek for things strange and marvellous and above the heavens. This
our rule of life he calls “a new creature,” both on account
of what is past, and of what is to come; of what is past, because our
soul, which had grown old with the oldness of sin, hath been all at
once renewed by baptism, as if it had been created again.163163 [“It is a matter of indifference whether one is circumcised
or uncircumcised; and the only matter of importance is that one should
be created anew, transferred into a new spiritual condition of
life.”—Meyer.—G.A.] Wherefore we require a new and heavenly
rule of life. And of things to come, because both the heaven and the
earth, and all the creation, shall with our bodies be translated into
incorruption. Tell me not then, he says, of circumcision, which now
availeth nothing; (for how shall it appear, when all things have
undergone such a change?) but seek the new things of grace. For they
who pursue these things shall enjoy peace and amity, and may properly
be called by the name of “Israel.” While they who hold
contrary sentiments, although they be descended from him (Israel) and
bear his appellation, have yet fallen away from all these things, both
the relationship and the name itself. But it is in their power to be
true Israelites, who keep this rule, who desist from the old ways, and
follow after grace.

This he says not as though he
were wearied or overpowered; he who chose to do and suffer all for his
disciples’ sake; he who said, “Be instant in season, out of
season;” (2 Tim. iv. 2.) he who said,
“If peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge
of the truth, and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the
devil;” (2 Tim. ii. 25, 26.) how shall he now
become relaxed and fall back? Wherefore does he say this? it is to gird
up their slothful mind, and to impress them with deeper fear, and to
ratify the laws enacted by himself, and to restrain their perpetual
fluctuations.164164 [Lightfoot similarly, but more clearly; “Paul closes the
epistle as he began it, with an uncompromising assertion of his
authority: Henceforth let no man question my authority; let no man
thwart or annoy me. Jesus is my Master and his brand is stamped on my
body. I bear this badge of an honorable
servitude.”—G.A.]

He says not, “I
have,” but, “I bear,” like a man priding himself on
trophies and royal ensigns. Although on a second thought it seems a
disgrace, yet does this man vaunt of his wounds, and like military
standard-bearers, so does he exult in bearing about these wounds. And
why does he say this? “More clearly by those wounds than by any
argument, than by any language, do I vindicate myself,” says he.
For these wounds utter a voice louder than a trumpet against my
opponents, and against those who say that I play the hypocrite in my
teaching, and speak what may please men. For no one who saw a soldier
retiring from the battle bathed in blood and with a thousand wounds,
would dare to accuse him of cowardice and treachery, seeing that he
bears on his body the proofs of his valor, and so ought ye, he says, to
judge of me. And if any one desire to hear my defence, and to learn my
sentiments, let him consider my wounds, which afford a stronger proof
than these words and letters. At the outset of his Epistle he evinced
his sincerity by the suddenness of his conversion, at its close he
proves it by the perils which attended his conversion. That it might
not be objected that he had changed his course with upright intentions,
but that he had not continued in the same purpose, he produces his
trials, his dangers, his stripes as witnesses that he had so
continued.

Then having clearly justified
himself in every particular, and proved that he had spoken nothing from
anger or malevolence, but had preserved his affection towards them
unimpaired, he again establishes this same point by concluding his
discourse with a prayer teeming with a thousand blessings, in these
words;

By this last word he hath sealed
all that preceded it. He says not merely, “with you,” as
elsewhere, but, “with your spirit,” thus withdrawing them
from carnal165165 [So
also Lightfoot, who says, “with your spirit” is probably in
reference to the carnal religion of the Galatians, but this cannot be
pressed because the same form of benediction occurs in Philem. 25; 2 Tim.
iv. 22. Meyer denies there is any such allusion at all. G.A.] things, and displaying throughout the
beneficence of God, and reminding them of the grace which they enjoyed,
whereby he was able to recall them from all their judaizing errors. For
to have received the Spirit came not of the poverty of the Law, but of
the righteousness which is by Faith, and to 48preserve it when obtained came
not from Circumcision but from Grace. On this account he concluded his
exhortation with a prayer, reminding them of grace and the Spirit, and
at the same time addressing them as brethren, and supplicating God that
they might continue to enjoy these blessings, thus providing for them a
twofold security. For both prayer and teaching, tended to the same
thing and together became to them as a double wall. For teaching,
reminding them of what benefits they enjoyed, the rather kept them in
the doctrine of the Church; and prayer, invoking grace, and exhorting
to an enduring constancy, permitted not the Spirit to depart from them.
And He abiding in them, all the error of such doctrines as they held
was shaken off like dust.166166 [Dr.
Schaff strikingly says: “The last sentence of this polemic
Epistle is a benediction and the last word is a word of affection,
‘brethren.’ (The word ἀδελφοί stands last in the true text, as the Rev. Version has it.) It
takes the sting out of the severity. Thus concludes this Epistle so
full of polemic fire and zeal, yet more full of grace—free
sovereign grace, justifying sanctifying grace, and full of forgiving
love even to ungrateful pupils; an Epistle for the time and an Epistle
for all times.”—Popular Commentary, in loco.—G.A.]

145 [“I have just charged you to shun provocation and envy. I
now ask you to do more—to be gentle even to those whose guilt is
flagrant.”—Lightfoot.—G.A.]

147 [Meyer holds the same view of this word (προλημφθῇ) and says, “If he be overtaken,” means if the
sin has reached him more rapidly than he could flee from it. Ellicott,
however, says this view of the πρό would tend to excuse
and qualify, whereas καὶ seems to point to an
aggravation of the offense. The meaning then is “be caught before
he could escape.”—So Lightfoot but not
Schaff.—G.A.]

148 [“Paul leaves it with every reader to regard himself
included or not.”—Meyer—G.A.]

151 [“This explanation of Chrysostom is not satisfactory. The
word in all cases appears to denote a complete filling
up.”—Ellicott. “By lending a hand
to bear your neighbor’s burden, you will fulfil the most perfect
of all laws—the law of Christ. But if (ver. 3.) any one asserts his superiority, if any one exalts
himself above others, he is nothing worth and is a vain self-deceiver.
Nay (ver. 4.) rather let each man
test his own work (ἔργονbeing in an
emphatic position) and then his boast will be his own and not depend on
comparison with others.”—Lightfoot.—G.A.]

152 [“If any one wishes to find matter for boasting, let it be
truly searched for in his own actions and not derived from a contrast
of his own fancied virtues with the faults of
others.”—Ellicott.—G.A.]

153 [Ellicott says, “The qualitative and humbling distinction of
Chrysostom does not appear natural or probable, nor does it refer to
that which will take place in every man after the examination (Meyer);
but is apparently used ethically in reference to what according to the
nature of things must be the case.”—G.A.]

154 [Those
philosophers among the Greeks who received pay from their pupils were
looked down upon, and called Sophists, vid.
Xen. Mem. 1. 6. §. 13.

155 [Different views are held as to the connection of this with the
preceding. Lightfoot says the connection is this: “I spoke of
bearing one another’s burdens. There is one special application I
would make of this rule; provide for the wants of your teachers.
Δέ arrests a former topic before it passes out of sight.”
(Compare 4: 20.) But Ellicott takes a
different view and says: “The duty of sharing their temporal
blessings with their teacher is placed in contrast with the foregoing
declaration of individual responsibility in spiritual matter.” So
also Meyer who, however, refers it to moral
good.—G.A.]

156 [Dislocated by Chrysostom. This is a part of verse 9, and is an
encouragement not to become weary in below sowing to the Spirit.—
Meyer.—G.A.]

157 [Meyer, understanding “all good things” to mean every
thing that is morally good, says, that this is a warning to the
readers, in respect to this necessary moral fellowship not to allow
themselves to be led astray (by the teachers of error or otherwise).
Lightfoot and Schaff refer this warning to the consequences of failure
to share their temporal blessings with their teachers. Ellicott says,
“Verse 7 is a continuation of
the subject in a more general and extended way but not without
reference to the special command which immediately
precedes.”—G.A.]

158 [Ellicott hesitatingly adopts this view also. So Alford and Riddle
(in Lange). But Meyer, Schaff, Schmoller (in Lange) and Lightfoot say
that ἔγραψα(Philem. 19.) is the epistolary aorist and marks the point at which
Paul takes the pen from the amanuensis; and that only this concluding
paragraph was written with his own hand. So the American Committee also
in the Rev. Ver.—G.A.]

159 [“The word used, πηλίκοις, denotes size not irregularity. Nor is it probable that
Paul who was educated at Jerusalem and Tarsus, the great centre of
Jewish and Greek learning, was ignorant and unskillful in writing
Greek. The boldness of the handwriting answers to the force of the
Apostle’s
convictions.”—Lightfoot.—G.A.]

160 [“Certain men have an ‘object’ in displaying
their zeal for carnal ordinances. They hope thereby to save themselves
from persecution for professing the cross of
Christ.”—Lightfoot.—G.A.]

161 [“They advocate circumcision and yet they themselves neglect
the ordinances of the Law. They could not face the obloquy to which
their abandonment of the Mosaic Law would expose them. So they tried to
keep on good terms with their unconverted fellow-Jews by imposing
circumcision on the Gentile converts also thus getting the credit of
zeal for the law.”—Lightfoot.—G.A.]

162 [“For myself, on the other hand, far be it from me, etc.: By
way of contrast to the boasting of the pseudo-apostles, Paul now
presents his own ground of boasting, namely, the crucifixion of Christ,
by whose crucifixion is produced the result that no fellowship of life
longer exists between him and the world: it is dead for him and he is
dead for it.”—Meyer.—Alter
pro mortuo habet alterum.
(Schott.)—G.A.]

163 [“It is a matter of indifference whether one is circumcised
or uncircumcised; and the only matter of importance is that one should
be created anew, transferred into a new spiritual condition of
life.”—Meyer.—G.A.]

164 [Lightfoot similarly, but more clearly; “Paul closes the
epistle as he began it, with an uncompromising assertion of his
authority: Henceforth let no man question my authority; let no man
thwart or annoy me. Jesus is my Master and his brand is stamped on my
body. I bear this badge of an honorable
servitude.”—G.A.]

165 [So
also Lightfoot, who says, “with your spirit” is probably in
reference to the carnal religion of the Galatians, but this cannot be
pressed because the same form of benediction occurs in Philem. 25; 2 Tim.
iv. 22. Meyer denies there is any such allusion at all. G.A.]

166 [Dr.
Schaff strikingly says: “The last sentence of this polemic
Epistle is a benediction and the last word is a word of affection,
‘brethren.’ (The word ἀδελφοί stands last in the true text, as the Rev. Version has it.) It
takes the sting out of the severity. Thus concludes this Epistle so
full of polemic fire and zeal, yet more full of grace—free
sovereign grace, justifying sanctifying grace, and full of forgiving
love even to ungrateful pupils; an Epistle for the time and an Epistle
for all times.”—Popular Commentary, in loco.—G.A.]